Chapter 19:
The Solar System
Practice Test
1.
Which of the following does Pluto have in common with other planets?
a.
It is a gaseous giant.
b.
It has a dense atmosphere.
c.
It has a moon.
d.
It has rings.
Hint
2.
Who was the first to hypothesize that Earth and the other planets in our solar system orbit the sun?
a.
Kepler
b.
Copernicus
c.
Ptolemy
d.
Galileo
Hint
3.
Why don't most meteors strike Earth's surface as meteorites?
a.
because most bounce off Earth's surface
b.
because most burn up in Earth's atmosphere
c.
because most hit the outer planets first
d.
because most are made of gas
Hint
4.
Select, from the following, an example of a
terrestrial
planet.
a.
Pluto
b.
Saturn
c.
Uranus
d.
Mars
Hint
5.
Which of the following features has been discovered on the surface of Mars by space probes?
a.
canyons
b.
polar ice caps
c.
volcanoes
d.
all of the above
Hint
6.
What is a large body of matter that orbits a star but does not give off its own light?
a.
planet
b.
moon
c.
meteor
d.
sun
Hint
7.
What are the rings of Saturn composed of?
a.
a slush of water and ice
b.
dust and rock particles
c.
liquid helium
d.
liquid nitrogen
Hint
8.
What evidence first suggested the existence of Neptune and Pluto?
a.
a sunspot maximum
b.
the discovery of an object named QBI.
c.
an unusual variation in the orbit of Uranus
d.
a new asteroid belt
Hint
9.
Which of the following is true of the planet Mercury?
a.
Mercury's daytime temperature averages 170°C
b.
Mercury is the farthest planet from Earth.
c.
Mercury has a thin atmosphere.
d.
Mercury has a thick atmosphere.
Hint
10.
How is Venus similar to Earth?
a.
Venus and Earth have similar atmospheric pressures.
b.
Venus and Earth have similar surface temperatures.
c.
Venus and Earth have nearly the same gas content in their atmospheres.
d.
Venus and Earth have similar diameters and masses.
Hint
11.
Which of the following describes the core of Jupiter?
a.
gaseous, composed of hydrogen and helium
b.
gaseous, composed of sulfur dioxide
c.
slushy, composed of water and ice
d.
solid and rocky, about the size of Earth
Hint
12.
What is Jupiter's atmosphere mainly composed of ?
a.
oxygen and carbon
b.
oxygen and nitrogen
c.
sulfuric acid and water vapor
d.
hydrogen and helium
Hint
13.
Why is the surface of Mars a distinctive red color?
a.
The atmospheric pressure of Mars is high.
b.
Mars's surface temperature is extremely hot.
c.
Sulfuric acid is present in the atmosphere of Mars.
d.
Iron oxide is present in rocks on the surface of Mars.
Hint
14.
What is an asteroid made of?
a.
a chunk of rock
b.
a glowing cloud of gas
c.
a sphere of liquid methane
d.
an ion tail
Hint
15.
Select, from the following, the gaseous substance that gives Uranus its blue-green color.
a.
methane
b.
sulfur dioxide
c.
hydrogen
d.
helium
Hint
